Automatic-locking collar.



Smmm 621-132 55 j'zlwzwlflglw PATENTED NOV 20, 1906 G. V. J.CHRISTENSEN. AUTOMATIC LOCKING COLLAR.

APPLICATION FILED APB. gs. 1906.

UNITED PATENT ,OFFIGE. CARL V. J. CHRISTENSEN, OF ATTLEBORO,MASSACHUSETTS.

' AUTOMATIC-LOCKING COLLAR.

' had therein to t e accompanying drawings.

This invention relates to self-locking collars, and has for its objectto provide a collar that may be adjusted either up or down on a spindleand one that will lock automatically in any position on said spindleagainst a further movement in one direction, or, if desired, the collarmay be fixed and the spindle may be moved up and down at will throughsaid collar and be locked automatically against a further movement inone direction.

' The device is constructed of a shell or collar having located withinit one or more plates similar in construction to a washer, said platesbeing arranged to automatically cramp or bind and grip the spindle whenthe same is trying to pass through in one direction.

A feature of this invention is that the hole in said Washer or platethrough which the spindle asses is made polygonal in form, preferab yhexagonal, so as to concentrate the bite of thegrip-plate into fourdistinct points, two in back and two in front, instead of distributingthe said bite over a greater contact-surface, as would be the case ifthe hole in the plate were round. This form of hole that has straightsides insures a bitethat will not slip, even when applied to a spindlehaving a hardened surface and willsustain a heavy load with safety.

The invention is fully set forth in this specification and moreparticularly pointed out in the ap ended claims. v v In t e accompanyingdrawings, Figure l s a view showing the collar in 'sectionand thegrip-platein position to bind the spindle.

Fig. 2 is the same as Fig. 1 with the exception that there are two gripplates forbinding the spindle instead of one. Fig. 3 re resents a planview of the grip-plate as 1 ustrated in Fig. 1, showing it in positionto present the'four distinct points incontact with the spindle. Fig. 4is an edge view of said grip-plate, showing the actuating end or handle.Fig. 5 represents a plan view of the grip-plate, showing thecontact-finger raised out of the stock, such as that illustrated inSpecification of Letters Patent.

Application filed April 26, 1906. Serial No. 318,828..

' ?atented. Nov.20,1 906.

the lower plate in Fig. 3. Fig. 6 is an edge View of sa1d plate indetail, showing the contact-finger. Fig. 7 is a sectional 'plan view ofthe shell or collar on line 7 7 of Flg. 1. Fig. 8 re resents a supportin which the shelf of a disp ay-stand rests upon the collar, whichautomatically locks itself to the standard.

Fig. 9 represents another style of displaystand in which the weight isapplied to the spindle instead of the collar, giving the reverse actionto the grip-plates to that illustrated in Fig. 8. display-stand, whichhas my automatic looking collar connected to the spindle, Whichactssimilar to that illustrated in Fig. 8.

Fig. 10 is another form of Referring to the drawings, at 1 is the spin-I dle, which may be used on a bracket, extension-stand, or the like, asshown in Figs. 8, 9, and 10, or it may serve in any other capacity inconnection with my device where the same ma be conveniently applied. At2 .is the edge of the grip-plate, a little tongue 4 is formed bypressing in a narrow piece of the side or wall of the shell, the walldirectly ,opposite this tongue being slotted at 5 to admit of'a movementof'the actuating-handle of the said gri -plate. When it is desired touse the shel on a tube, it may be screwed onto the same, as illustratedat 6 in Fi 1. p

A cap or cover 7 may be fitted mto the upper edge of the collar toinclose the same and also to form an upper bearing on the spindle orshaft. This cap maybe permanently retained in its osition by having theupper edge of the collar turned over the same, if desired, asillustrated in Fig. 2, or said cap may be removably fitted into theupper edge of the collar, as illustrated in Fig. 1, to allow the sametobe readily removed for inspection or repairs of the operating parts.This latter construction is found in practice'to be very convenient andthat for ordinary service the said cap may be sprung into the thin metalcollar and held firmly in position without the necessity of usingfurther retaining means.

At 8 is the grlplate, preferably made of circular form, as shown in Fig.3, with a narrow neck or projection 9 extending from one side thereofand turned up at its outer end at 10, with the outer face of theturned-up portion knurled or roughened to be more readily engaged by thethumb or finger to lift it. Through this plate is formed a hole,preferably hexagonal in shape, the essential feature being to form anangular hole that will present a plurality of contacfipoints to thespindle when tipped up on an angle, as shown in Fi 1.

As illustrated in Fig. 3, a hexagonal hole presents four contactoints 1313 and 14 1.4, two in back and two H1 front of the spindle, which, asdetermined by experiment and practical experience, gives the bestpossible results to the gripping-plate. This plate, as shown in Fig. 1,fits loosely in the shell 2 and has its extending ortion or handle 10projecting out throug the slot 5 in the wall of said shell, the oppositeside of the plate being sup orted on the little ton ue 4. At 11 is a smal coil-spring to normal y hold said plate down in contact with the sindle, one end of said spring being turned own through the hole 12 tohold it in place.

Figs. 2, 5, and 6 illustrate another construction of my device, in whichtwo griplates 15 and 16 are shown instead of one, as in Fig. 1. Each ofthese plates may be supported from the back edges on separate tongue 44; but both may be operated to release the spindle by the upwardmovement of the lower plate. As is lllustrated in these figures, thisplate-is provided with a horn or finger 17, which will engage and raisethe u per plate when the lower plate is raised. t 18 is a coil-springpressing down on the upper plate, and at 19 is shown a spring drawingdown the lower plate.

Any number of binding-plates may be employed in my device, according tothe weight desired to be held. v

To operate the device in the form illustrated in Figs: 1 and 9, wherethe spindle or shaft is adjustable and supports the weight, the collaris preferably supported on a tubular standard and ma be connected tosaid standard in any suita 1e manner. The gripplate 8 is set into thecollar in which it fits loosely, with one edge resting .on the tongue 4and the actuating-handle 10 on its 0 0- site side projecting out throughthe wall of the collar. The hole in this plate is made with a pluralityof sides and somewhat larger than the s indle that passes through it. Onaccount 0 sup ortin one edge only of this grip-plate on t e wal of thecollar the opposite side naturally falls until the ed es of i the stockaround the hole engages bot the back and front of the s indle. Anyweight or force exerted by t is spindle to press downward naturallytends on account of the inclined position of the plate to cramp or bindthe spindle to prevent it from further downward movement, the principlebeing that the greater the weight on the spindle the more thegrip-plates will cramp and bind the same.

To release the spindle or shaft, it is only necessary to raise thehandle 10 by a slight pressure of the thumb or finger, and said s indlemay then be moved freely up or own; but upon releasin the handle 10 thesprin 11 acts on the ate and throws it uickiy down into the slidingposition to bite t e spindle and hold it firmly from further downwardmovement, it being always free, however, to be moved in the oppositedirection. When it is desired to use the collar on a fixed spindle tosupport a shelf or plate, as illustrated in Figs. 8 and 10, thegrip-plate located therein is held in an inverted osition, the springbeing beneath it to ho d it up against the tongue 4, its action beingdirectly opposite touthat illustrated in Figs. 1 and 9., When it isdesired to move the collar downward on the spindle, the thumb or fingerpresses the handle of the said gri plate downward, which naturallyreleases t e gripping or binding effect on the spindle and the collarmay be freely moved in either direction.

This device is extremely simple and practical in its construction andefficient in its operation. On account of the angular shape of the holea plurality of distinct gri ping and bitin points are resented simutaneously to t e spindle, e ectually binding the same and preventing afurther downward movement against a heavy weight. Any number of grippin-plates may be usedin the collar and, as il ustrated in Fig. 3, all ofsaid plates may be actuated with one operating-handle.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire tosecure by Letters Patent, is

1. A device of the character described comprising a closed shell orcasing the wall of whereby said plate is normally in position to gripsaid standard,.and a removablecap fitting within said casing and forminga bearing for said shaft.

2. A device of the character described comprising a closed shell orcasing the wall of. which is cut to form a tongue, said tongue beingbent inwardly, said shell being also provided with. a reduced tubularportion, a gripping-plate located in said casing and provided witha-finger-piece, said plate being provided with a polygonal opening, astandard passing through said casing and also y said plate is noreasing,said cap being provided with a flange forming a bearing for said shaft.

3. V, In alocking collar, a shell, a plurality of gripplates mounted'insaid shell, 9. standard extending through said shell and plates, meanswherebysaid, plates are held in an inclined position to each grip saidstandard independently and automatically to prevent an endwise movementof the same in one direc-v tion, and means carried by one plate to si--multaneously move the other plate when the first-mentioned plate ismoved to unlocking ing, means for holding said plates inengagepo'sition.

4. In a locking collar, a shell, a plurality of grip-plates mounted insaid shell, a standard extending through said shell and plates, eachofsaid plates being provided with a polygonal-shaped hole and arranged topresent a plurality of distinct gripping-points to said standard, meanswhereby said plates are held in an inclined position to each grip saidstandard independently and automatically to prevent an endwise movementof the same in one direction, and means whereby all of the said platesmay be moved to unlocking position by the movement of one late. p 5. Adevice of the character described comprising i shell or casing,;:a; 4'gripping-p ates. located in;-' sai casing, *a standard a passing throughsaid 'plates and said casing-"means for holding said plates'inposition-to gripgsaidfstandard, and means in tegral-wi'th one of said.latessand-projecting \from said casing, where y the same may be movedand" means ,for simultaneously releasing all ofsaidflplatesfrom-,theirgrippin pfsitions by movement ofthefir'stmentlone pate. v I i '6. A device of the character describedcasing being provided with a plurality of inturned lips to formshoulders, a plurality of gripping-plates located in said casing, a

standard passing through said plates and cas- CARL V. J. CHRISTENSEN.

Witnesses: I HOWARD E. BARLOW,

E. I. OGDEN.

comprising a shell or casing, thewall of said

